Protesting students smell rat, say they were trapped
Srinagar: Angered over the present reservation policy, scores of youth gathered outside the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar asking the government to make the necessary amends to make the policy fair.
Interestingly, the protest was headed by National Conference Member Parliament Ruhullah Mehdi, giving the whole exercise both a Bollywood and comic touch.
The party that is in power in Kashmir with a massive mandate, though its powers to rule are yet to be announced, its own MP organises a protest against its own CM, something seems fishy, said a protesting student from GMC Baramulla.
Though Ruhullah Mehdi was vocal in criticizing the reservation policy, arguing that it disproportionately affected certain communities and demanded fairness and equality in its policies, suggesting, the current reservation system was divisive and has created a sense of alienation among deserving sections of society, some of the youths were regretting being part of the assemblage.
We had come in a good faith but it seems it is a political drama. All the politicians present here are playing their own politics. I think they are using us for their own political gains. We reject the current reservation policy, it is a huge injustice to us, but politicians have hijacked the issue, said a protesting student from Baramulla, adding, seems Ruhullah wants to bail CM out and trapped us.
However, despite these reservations, the protest gained momentum as leaders from other political factions extended their support. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para expressed solidarity, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction among the youth. “This is not just about reservation; it is about the government’s failure to address the aspirations of the younger generation,” Para said.
Members of Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also backed the protest.
Mirwaiz, called for justice and transparency in governance. “Policies that discriminate against any section of the population are unacceptable. The government must listen to the voice of the youth,” he wrote on X.
Protesters held banners and shouted slogans demanding immediate changes to the reservation policy. Many criticized the Chief Minister for remaining unresponsive to their grievances.
With the Centre granting reservation to Pahari-speaking people in Jammu and Kashmir, the open merit category has been reduced to just 30 percent while 70 percent seats are reserved for various communities.
Students, especially those undergoing training in medicine and surgery, have been protesting against this policy, saying it promotes mediocrity where merit should reign supreme.
Several political leaders, including Lok Sabha member from Baramulla Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer and arch-rival PDP leaders Waheed Para and Iltija Mufti, have supported the protest led by the NC leader against his own party government. Many of them, including Para and Mufti also joined the protest in person.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, has also called for rationalisation of the reservation.
Speaking on the occasion, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said that he had already assured the students that their grievances are genuine and he will do every possible thing to ensure justice is delivered.
“I don’t want any chaos, and I am not here to divide my party. I will go to every door to seek justice. But, if anyone wants to create chaos in J&K, I will also hit the streets to oppose them,” he said.
Ruhullah thanked PDP leaders, including MLA Pulwama Waheed Parra and Iltija Mufti, and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) for extending their support to him.
PDP MLA from Pulwama in a post on X said he “wholeheartedly welcome Ruhullah’s decision to stand with the youth in demanding rationality and fairness in reservation policies. This is a pivotal moment to address pressing grievances and ensure our policies are inclusive, youth-friendly, and just”.
Para said at the heart of this matter lies the urgent and vehement demand for proportional representation, a system that allocates opportunities based on the socio-economic realities of communities, ensuring no group is disproportionately favoured or left behind.
“Our demand is not antithetical to affirmative action. ]In fact, we are in favour of strengthening it. We believe that inclusion through reservation must go beyond tokenism to foster substantive equality. We believe in empowering marginalised communities to not just be present but to shape decisions and lead change.
“However, let’s be clear: Merit must remain the bedrock of our systems. Reservations must serve only as targeted exceptions to bridge inequalities, not as tools for perpetual imbalance. Policies that reduce the majority to a minority are neither just nor sustainable,” he added.
Iltija Mufti said they want the government to act on its promises in rationalizing the reservation policy.
She said taking part in anti-reservation protests does not mean that PDP is against any section of the society, rather there is a need to distribute the seats equitably according to proportion of the population.
Iltija hoped that chief minister Omar Abdullah will give time-bound assurance and will address the issue in the larger interests of the student community.
“Hope CM Omar Abdullah will give time-bound assurance. We have been hearing promises for a long time but we want rationalization in reservation. We want the government to act on its promises. We are not here to do any politics, but to express our solidarity with students and push for rationalization in reservation policy,” junior Mufti told reporters on the sidelines of the protest.
When asked whether she thinks that the government will take up this matter with seriousness, she said they would have to walk the talk. “The government has recently formed a sub-committee, but we have not seen any report till date. There is a need to address the issue in a time-bound manner,” she said.
On being asked if the matter is sub-judice, Iltija said: “Should we sit at home if the matter is sub-judice. We have to do what we can do for students. Jammu & Kashmir’s unemployment rate has reached 37 percent while recruitment exams are being scrapped.”
“We are here today for the students. This protest is by the students and for the students,” she held.
Mirwaiz, in a post on X, said the issue of reservation should be addressed with justice and fairness by those in charge, safeguarding the interests of all segments of society, not at the expense of any group.
“The current status of reservations does that, by undermining the interests of the General/open merit category. Fervent appeal to address their concerns immediately! Support #openmeritstudentsassociation @OMSA_JK sit in protest,” he said.
Mirwaiz said he would be part of the protests if allowed by the authorities.
“Would be part of it if authorities allowed. My delegation will be there to support. Will also raise the issue in #JamaMasjid whenever permitted to go,” he added.
Awami Ittehad Party MLA Sheikh Khursheed and chief spokesman Inam un Nabi also joined the protests in support of rationalisation of reservations.
High drama at Gupkar: Photos by Farooq Javed
